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Monday, May 14, 2012

Four Year Blogiversary!

This kind of snuck up on me - the anniversary of the start of my last diet and the beginning of my blog. Oh, and my new lifestyle. Minor thing, right? Actually, I think the fact that this date wasn't looming in my mind speaks volumes for how normal my new way of being is, and that in fact, it's not so new anymore. It's just something that I do - eat right most of the time, exercise several times a week - and not something that I stress over. Somehow, along the way, this has become my new normal. However, I don't dare let myself forget my past, because four years ago, if I hadn't tried one last time to lose weight, you know where I'd be? Still where I was.

I wouldn't have started blogging, and in the process, met so many
wonderful people - and yes, I'm counting the online friendships as well
as the in-person friendships. Since starting my diet and this blog, the
size of my body has shrunk, but my world has expanded greatly.

I wouldn't have become a runner. I wouldn't have a half marathon medal and a bunch of race bibs hanging in my office. I wouldn't have had the confidence to go to the gym and swim for fitness. I never would have joined up with my trainer and flipped a tire, jumped on a high box or challenged myself the way that I did.

I'm grateful for the reprieve I seem to be receiving from my 20 year battle with food, dieting and weight gain. As with other addictions, I know that it is only a daily reprieve, based on the work that I put into it, but this has been the longest time I've ever gone, as an adult, at a normal weight. I look like a normal person from the outside. Inside? I know that deep down, I still have the ability to go on a food bender - and that was evidenced for several months last year when I was dealing with my ankle injury and my mom's illness. That said, I didn't throw all of my hard work away, and I was able to not lose my mind completely when it came to food, but that was a good reminder that I am not, nor will I ever be, cured of my tendency to be overweight.

Here's my journey, in pictures, from May 2008 to May 2012. Know what I see? Someone who, for the past 3+ years, has looked like a normal-sized person. Not a super-thin person, not a super-buff person, but just a plain old regular person. After two decades of being really overweight, I'll gladly take this. And I fully intend to keep doing what it takes to look like this for the rest of my life - that is a promise to myself.

Left - May 2008; Right - May 2009

Left - May 2010; Right - May 2011

May 2012

Finally, I have to thank you, my sweet readers, for all of your support, comments and friendship over the last four years - I seriously don't think I would have been nearly as successful with my weight-loss journey had it not been for blogging, and therefore, you!

You are an inspiration to me and to many others Shelley and I'm grateful I found your blog in the online world where there are so many blogs to follow. I think I've been reading you for about 3 years now and I've enjoyed every post of it.

Hope I can read many more years of you and maybe, who knows, we can arrange that playdate for Bella and Paco someday. That would be so awesome.

Congratulations Shelley, that's awesome. I love that it sort of snuck up on you - sneaky anniversary! You continue to be so very inspiring and encouraging. Interestingly, about a fortnight ago I went back and started reading your blog from your first post to see your full journey. I think I'm going to have a lot of reading to catch me up to speed....

Thank you for all you have given us - your warmth, your wacky sense of humor, your fashion stylings, and your inspiration. Congratulations on creating this awesome life for yourself. You deserve every minute of joy that it brings.

Even though you say you have an inner fat girl wanting to take over and get out, I think you have an inner (and outer) skinny girl who is stronger! Three years of maintenance is spectacular and a place where not to many people ever get to be. Congratulations.

I, for one, am so glad you decided to try one more time - and to blog about it. My life is richer because I found My Journey to Fit. Thanks BIF!

You DO look like a normal person. I think the May 2012 picture is just extraordinary. You should be so proud of yourself and continue to live just the way you are as it is working for YOU. No comparisons to anyone else, just live your life with that happy attitude and love of being healthy, and you will be perfect. I love reading your blog because of your eternal sunshine.

What a remarkable transformation you've made - you literally look like a different person, Shelley. You are one of my heroes in the blog world. You have it all - weight loss success, humor, kindness, kick ass fashion sense, and knitting! Congratulations - you deserve all good things!

Happy Blogiversary! I can't tell you how much you have added to my life with your posts, your friendship, your comments and encouragement! You are an asset to us probably as much if not more then we are to you!

Happy Blogiversary Shelley!!!!! Your journey is inspiring, you are a wonderful person, and I'm very honored to be one of your on-line friends!!!! Cheers to MANY more years of health, happiness and photos of Paco! Hugs!!!!

I love that it snuck up on you; just another sign that this really is your new normal. Shelley, you are amazing, inspirational and you have the best frickin' head of hair in the blogosphere. I could really hate you if I didn't like you so much. ;-D

Love all the photos; you look terrific, and yes, very normal. Happy Blog-aversary!

Happy Blogiversary!!! You look amazing and beautiful. It is very difficult to maintain a weight loss, and you are healthy, and eating well, and staying fit. It's great being a plain old regular person isn't it? (You actually are not just a plain old regular person to me, you are an inspiration!)

Happy (belated) Blogaversary! Blogging for 4 years is almost - OK, not even close - as big an accomplishment as sustained weight loss and becoming amazingly physically fit.

I have crashed and burned a little after 2 years of blogging and am just now reconnecting with my favorite bloggers. Forgive me for being absent on your comment board. I will be here cheering you along and a more active supporter.

I love hearing from you and read each and every comment! Comments on older posts are moderated, so they won't show up right away - sorry to my real readers, but spammers love to hit old posts, so this is necessary.